Prefectorate Guard

Insignia of the Prefectorate Guard
Prefectorate Guard
Formed 2532[1]
Nickname Politics of Warfare
Affiliation Capellan Confederation
Parent Command Capellan Hussars


History[edit]

Formation to First Succession War[edit]

The Prefectorate Guard was formed in 2532[1] to replace the mutinous Merik's Grenadiers as the regiment within the Capellan Hussars associated with the Capella Commonality.[2] The Grenadiers had mutinied in 2451, taking Chancellor Duncan Liao hostage, and were destroyed by the Second Hexare Lancers - the future Red Lancers - in February 2452.[3][4] With their loyalty above question, the Prefectorate Guard was charged with protecting the halls of the Capellan government and serving as the bodyguards of the Prefectorate nobility, and could only be deployed with the consent of the Prefectorate Council.[1] It was for this reason that by the twilight years of the Star League that the unit had not seen actual combat since the twenty-sixth century, with much of the Guard's elderly MechWarriors simply awaiting retirement. [2]

First Succession War[edit]

In 2788 the Prefectorate Guard was deployed along with the Ariana Grenadiers to wrest control of Tyrfing away from the Free Worlds League. A former provincial capital under the Terran Hegemony, Tyrfing had been devastated in 2777 by the campaign to liberate the planet, with the Amaris Empire Armed Forces making wide use of chemical, nuclear and biological weapons against the Star League Defense Force Fifth Army until the SLDF final offensive broke the defenders via orbital bombardment from the Twelfth Fleet and tactical nuclear strikes. The widespread use of WMDs, accompanied by numerous toxic leaks from ravaged industrial facilities, had poisoned Tyrfing extensively. The SLDF had evacuated much of the population, but the population of Tyrfing was continuing to decline; the Free Worlds League had decided that there was likely to be enough by way of technology and salvage on Tyrfing to make it worth seizing the planet, and had garrisoned it with forces that included three BattleMech regiments - the Twenty-third Marik Militia and the Third and Seventh Oriente Hussars. What the CCAF didn't predict was that every other Great House would also attempt to seize Tyrfing from the Free Worlds League at almost the same time.[5]

The Prefectorate Guard and Ariana Grenadiers arrived on Tyrfing in July 2788, within days of the arrival of the Seventh Donegal Guards and the Stealths - the Lyran Commonwealth having decided to act on the same rumors of SLDF weapons caches and the potential reactivation of the SDS network by the FWLM that had prompted the CCAF to invade the planet, and soon the Prefectorate Guard were embroiled in battles with both the League and Lyran units. In late August the Fourth Davion Guards and the Fifth Dragonlords landed on Tyrfing, sent by the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns as part of a desperate attempt to acquire Star League technologies that could be used to help stem the massive invasion of the Federated Suns launched by the Draconis Combine. The DCMS in turn deployed the Eighth Sword of Light and the Black Sharks mercenary regiment (the Black Sharks being the former Thirteenth Republic Light Lancers ) to either thwart the AFFS efforts or seize anything valuable themselves. The resulting five-way campaign finished the planetary devastation begun during the Amaris Civil War. By the time everyone other than the League forces had left in February 2789, none of the industrialized cities was left, the civilian population was at eight million and dropping fast, and the conventional infantry forces supporting each of the 'Mech regiments had taken ninety percent casualties - or worse.[5] The Prefectorate Guard didn't bring their conventional forces with them; They were needed to provide defense for Capella.[6]

Second Succession War[edit]

In 2828, while defending Novaya Zemlya, they faced an attack by the AFFS 33rd Avalon Hussars. The green Thirty-third was effectively destroyed by the Prefectorate Guard, losing 90% of their equipment and troops.[7]

In 2828 the Red Lancers and Prefectorate Guard, at the explicit order of the Chancellor, had most of their equipment reassigned to other regiments. The MechWarriors then received their new equipment, mostly Warhammers and Marauders.[8] The two regiments then attacked Orbisonia in the Federated Suns (misreported as Aosia instead of Orbisonia in at least one source). Led by Chancellor Ilsa Liao, they fought elements of the Ceti Hussars and Avalon Hussars. The heavy firepower of the Red Lancers and Prefectorate Guard inflicted heavy losses on the lighter weight Federated Suns forces.[8] They were forced to withdraw however, and Chancellor Liao was killed covering their retreat.[9] The losses sustained by the CCAF led Kamachi Imarra, a Prefectorate Guard MechWarrior, to create the Warrior Houses for the Confederation.[10]

In 2833 the unit supported the CCAF attempt to lift the siege of Tikonov. The Prefectorate Guard were able to engage the heavier AFFS forces and pin them down, refusing to let them pass.[1]

Third Succession War[edit]

The Prefectorate Guard joined with the Red Lancers in 2970 to raid Spica.[11] This raiding successfully destroyed three mercenary commands that were hired by the Federated Suns.[12] Tormax Liao ordered some companies of the Prefectorate Guard to hunt pirates, placing Maximilian Liao at their head. This was the reason why the Guard put their support behind Maximilian Liao in 2990, making him the new Chancellor.[13]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In the Fourth Succession War the unit took only light casualties in their failed defense of Liao but later surrendered after a long fight on Nopah where they took part in Operation RIPOSTE.

Andurien/Canopus Invasion[edit]

In 3031 a mercenary unit raided Hexare, close to Sian. Romano Liao ordered the Prefectorate Guard to retaliate. The Guards engaged the mercenary forces in a series of conventional frontal assaults. They fell for several tricks by the mercenaries, and after several days of fighting the mercenary force successfully left Hexare.[14] Smashed in May 3032 on Betelgeuse defending it against an Andurien invasion, the unit was disbanded on Romano Liao's orders and the survivors incorporated into other units.[15]

Clan Invasion to Xin Sheng Period[edit]

During the relative peace the Confederation experienced after the Andurien invasion, both the destroyed and disbanded Prefectorate and Dynasty Guards were rebuilt as elite, but unnamed militia units on their future homeworlds. As benefiting the political service of its predecessor unit, the reborn Guards was raised on the Confederation's capital of Sian, with each of its officers having graduated from the Sian University, finally earning its formal title as the Prefectorate Guards when Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao announced the formation of the Liao and Victoria Commonalities. [16]

Deployed to the commonality capital of Victoria during the Xin Sheng era, the Prefectorate Guards served to defend the important manufacturing center as well as assisting in the training and evaluation of Periphery units on-world as part of the Trinity Alliance. During this period, the Guards also traveled to the Magistracy of Canopus to assist that nation against the Marian Hegemony. The commanding officer of the Prefectorate Guard at the time, Sang-shao Jorgen Nerekov, was an accomplished engineer who consulted and assisted Victoria-based Shengli Arms with the design of the Jinggau BattleMech. Nerekov's involvement with Shengli was instrumental maintaining good relations between the CCAF and the manufacturer, also allowing the Prefectorate Guards to obtain the latest designs from both Shengli as well as Hellespont Industries on their homeworld of Sian.[17]

FedCom Civil War Era[edit]

Sang-shao Nerekov was involved in a mysterious research and development accident at the Shengli Arms facility on in 3065. Details of what happened were kept classified, but it was known that Nerekov suffered cerebral hemorrhaging severe enough that he was rendered unfit to command the Guard, and was subsequently awarded the Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism. He was also turned down for the award known as the Baton of Illustrious Service, making him the only Capellan Hussars commander not to be a recipient of this award.[18]

Although Nerekov was unable to command the Guard after the accident he retained the honorary status of regimental commander; field command of the Guard passed to Zhong-shao Emile Nan Lowen with the assistance of the commander of the Third Battalion, Darla Inien.[18]

Jihad[edit]

During Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE, the Prefectorate Guard was attacked by multiple AFFS units and reduced to slightly over one-third of its listed strength. They relocated to Victoria and began to rebuild using graduates from the Victoria Academy of Arms and Technology and the output of the decimated Shengli Arms factory.[19]

The unit was still in Victoria in 3079.[20]

The Dark Age[edit]

After the Jihad, the Prefectorate Guard were rotated away from Victoria and onto Sarna, partly to act as a guard against future conflict with the Republic of the Sphere but also because the growing level of conflict between the Guard and the mercenary unit Lethal Injection was putting the security of Shengli Arms at risk. With one officer cashiered and an increasingly-incoherent Sang-shao Nerekov pushed into retirement, Sang-shao Nan Loen assumed formal command of the Guard; Loen enforced high standards of discipline and decorum within the Guard, and made it abundantly clear that the insubordination which had occurred under Nerekov wouldn't be tolerated under his command. By 3085, Loen had transferred seventeen MechWarriors out of his command for failing to meet his standards.[21] In 3113, the Guard faced elements of Stone's Lament on Sarna. A Lament flanking maneuver was stopped cold by the Guard, extending the Lament's supply problems considerably and allowing the Guard to withdraw from Sarna in good order.[22]

The Prefectorate Guard were defeated in the Victoria War, and by 3145 the Guard's role had changed considerably. The Guard never really recovered from their Victoria War defeat, and at some point were rotated into garrison duty on Sarna in place of the Dynasty Guard. That didn't help the Guard recover; while the posting was a prestigious one, it also wasn't a particularly inspiring one for the MechWarriors of the Guard, and the regiment became a posting for MechWarriors who were serving out the last years of their careers, and for whom those careers had been uninspiring but unblemished. As a result, the Guard's 'Mech forces became distinctly average. In contrast, the infantry attached to the Guard became highly proficient at the tasks involved in their new posting - urban combat, counterinsurgency work and personal security. With some of the highest-ranking members of the Capellan government being guarded by members of the Guard infantry on a regular basis a disconnect emerged between the 'Mech and infantry forces, with the infantry commander vocally espousing the opinion that the Guard's 'Mech forces were holding the infantry back.[23]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Prefectorate Guard
Colonel Nikolina Tatarinov 2781 - 2788[24]
Colonel Sable Ruetiger 2828[25]
Colonel Pavel Ridzik 2990[26]
Colonel Braxton Gammon 3025[27]
Sang-shao Jorgen Nerekov 3063 - 3067[17][28][18]
Sang-shao Emile Nan Lowen 3085[29]
Sang-shao Ganeshkumar Mahajan 3145[30]

Tactics[edit]

The unit has a talent for defensive operations.[17]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Profectorate Guard (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[2]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Capella.

2786 - 2821[edit]

Profectorate Guard (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[31]

- At this point in time the Guard was a medium-weight regiment operating at full strength and was based on Capella.[31]In 2821 the unit was operating at just below half-strength .[31]

2830[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical) [32]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Capella with an operational readiness of 96 percent. [32]

2864[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical) [32]

Note: At this point in time medium-weight unit was stationed on Capella with an operational readiness of 64 percent. [32]

3025[edit]

Profectorate Guard (Veteran/Fanatical)[27]

  • CO: Colonel Braxton Gammon
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Sian. [33]

3028[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regiment/Veteran & Reg./Fanatical)[34]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Sian. [34]

3063[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (1 Reinforced Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[17]

  • CO: Sang-shao Jorgen Nerekov
  • 2nd Battalion: Zhong-shao Perry Rawlings
  • 3rd Battalion: Zhong-shao Darla Inien
  • 4th Battalion: Zhong-shao Hapsum Lee

Prefectorate Air Guard (2 Flights/Veteran/Fanatical)[17]

Prefectorate Armored Guard (1 Company/Regular/Reliable)[17]

  • Armor Commander: Sang-wei Merielle Clarètte

Prefectorate House Guard (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[17]

- Including a Fa Shih battle armor battalion

3067[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (4 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[28]

  • CO: Sang-shao Jorgen Nerekov/Emile Nan Loen

Prefectorate Air Guard (2 Flights/Veteran/Fanatical)[28]

  • CO: Kong-zhong-shao Nu Phang Gull

Prefectorate Armored Guard (Company/Regular/Reliable)[28]

  • CO: Sang-wei Phillipe Aragonue

Prefectorate House Guard (Green/Reliable)[28]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Lang Koo
- The Protectorate Guard was at full strength at this point in time, with more than two-thirds of the Guard's equipment featuring advanced technology.

3079[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [35]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Victoria.[35] The Prefectorate Guard had rebuilt to nearly full strength after the Jihad, being only twenty percent below listed strength.[19]

3085[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regular/Reliable)[29]

  • CO: Sang-shao Nan Loen

Prefectorate Air Guard (2 Flights/Veteran/Reliable)[29]

Prefectorate Armored Guard (1 Battalion/Regular/Fanatical)[29]

Prefectorate House Guard (Green/Fanatical)[29]

- At this point the Guard were operating at between eighty and ninety percent of full strength and were almost fully equipped with upgraded technology.[29]

3145[edit]

Prefectorate Guard (Regular/Reliable)[30]

  • CO: Sang-shao Ganeshkumar Mahajan

Prefectorate Air Guard (Regular/Reliable)[30]

Prefectorate Armored Guard (Veteran/Reliable)[30]

Prefectorate House Guard (Elite/Reliable)[30]

- At this point the Guard was station on Sarna, and the entire command was operating at full strength.

Alternate Emblems[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 78
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Field Report 2765: CCAF', p. 7 "Capellan Hussars"
  3. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 34, "Tribulations"
  4. Handbook: House Liao, p. 19, "The Time of Tribulation"
  5. 5.0 5.1 First Succession War, p. 110, "The Tyrfing Holocaust"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Turning Points: Tyrfing, p. 9: "Combatants"
  7. The Galtor Campaign, p. 43
  8. 8.0 8.1 Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 7
  9. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), pp. 47, 77
  10. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 48
  11. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 50
  12. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 77
  13. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 51
  14. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 58
  15. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 63
  16. Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 51 "Capellan Hussars: The Old Guard"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 54, "Prefectorate Guard: Politics of Warfare"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 20, "Prefectorate Guard"
  19. 19.0 19.1 Field Report: CCAF, p. 8
  20. Field Report: CCAF , p. 8 "Regimental Status"
  21. Field Manual: 3085, p. 23, "Prefectorate Guard"
  22. Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation, p. 20
  23. Field Manual: 3145, p. 30, "Prefectorate Guard"
  24. Turning Points: Tyrfing, p. 8
  25. 25.0 25.1 Historical Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 9
  26. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 128, "Victor Hargreaves Profile"
  27. 27.0 27.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 78, "Prefectorate Guard Profile"
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 33, "CCAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Field Manual: 3085, p. 34, "CCAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 44, "Capellan Confederation Deployment Table - 3145"
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 First Succession War, p. 135, "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)"
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Second Succession War, p. 95
  33. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  34. 34.0 34.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p.87
  35. 35.0 35.1 Field Report: CCAF , p. 8
  36. First Succession War, p. 147, "RAT Die Roll Modifiers by Combat Command Table"

Bibliography[edit]